The Bleeding Tree

In a small rural Australian town, a shot disturbs the still of the night. Was this an act of cold bloody murder or self defence? Angus Cerini’s The Bleeding Tree brings into question the potentially harmful nature of our increasingly private society; should we really ignore the violence that goes on behind closed doors if we possess the power to stop it? 

The entire world of the play is carried through Cerini’s beautifully descriptive, poetic dialogue. He perfectly captures the fear and remorse of a family long suffering from domestic violence who’ve finally taken a stand. Although at times the detailed, gory descriptions of the decaying body were enough to make the grown man sitting next to me audibly squirm. The rich dialogue allows for minimal props and a cast of only three actors, although many characters are present within the story. This made the intimate space of the Stables Theatre a perfect match for the play.

Cerini’s words were brought to life by a stellar cast of three strong female actors, Paula Arundell, Airlie Dodds and Shari Sebbens. They shared a strong family dynamic with comical banter clearly grounded in affection for one another. Arundell portrayed the bitter anger and simultaneous grief towards her deceased husband or “sick bundle of shit” particularly well.

The staging was seamless and fluid, set up on a high sloping stage covered with earth toned floral wallpaper. The added height of the stage served its purpose well within the Griffin Theatre, placing the actors either above or on the same level as the audience dependant on where you sit, allowing the women to reclaim their power.

The Bleeding Treeis a thrilling and thought provoking night at the theatre which offers hope to women in situations where they desperately need it.

Emma Squires

Photographer: Brett Boardman